A newly published European Red List of Moths shows that nearly one in nine moth species in Europe is threatened with extinction. Perhaps even more striking, scientists do not yet have enough information to assess around one quarter of species, highlighting major gaps in our understanding of this often overlooked group of insects.

The main pressures facing moths include habitat loss and degradation, climate change, intensive agriculture, habitat fragmentation, pollution and artificial light at night.

The report points to several priorities for action, including protecting and restoring habitats, improving connectivity between landscapes, and strengthening biodiversity monitoring.

These are all themes at the heart of SafeNet’s work. By improving biodiversity monitoring, identifying areas of high conservation value and exploring how species respond to climate change, the project is helping to build the knowledge needed for more effective conservation. SafeNet is also investigating how better-connected forest landscapes and wildlife corridors can support species movement, reduce habitat fragmentation, and improve ecosystem resilience in a changing climate.

The findings are a reminder that successful conservation relies on good data. The fact that so many moth species remain poorly understood highlights the importance of continued monitoring and research, not only for moths, but for biodiversity more broadly.

For more information, including the methodology and related publications, visit the European Commission article on the report.